Programs

The Urban Restoration Fans

The Urban Restoration Fans (TURF)

We are so excited to announce a collaboration between St. Thomas the Apostle Elementary School and Bishop Conaty – Our Lady of Loretto High School. Both schools have been long-standing educational institutions in the Harvard Heights area since the beginning of the 20th century. The schools have continually fostered relationships with the local residents and businesses. In conjunction with the Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative, students from both schools will coordinate and direct a series of neighborhood awareness projects that would include city beautification, public service announcements, and an art exhibition featuring local artists.

T.U.R.F allows students ranging from ages 5-18 to collaboratively design a plan and execute it with the assistance of the local community. In the course of an academic year, T.U.R.F. will organize and promote two city beautification events, create 3-5 public service announcements utilizing social media, and sponsor an art exhibition open to the public.

The Instructional Design will include three parts: classroom research, community outreach and inter-school collaboration. Each respective school will conduct cross-curricular research about the demographics and current social concerns of the Harvard Heights area. Student teams, whose members would be from both schools, will work with an adult mentor to detail the tasks involved with the community outreach. T.U.R.F will culminate with an art exhibit sponsored by both schools as well as members of the Harvard Heights community. The Harvard Heights Neighborhood Association has pledged their support of and assistance with T.U.R.F.

If you are interested in getting involved with this program, please contact Ms. Vanessa Rivera at 323-737-4730.